and was excited when the product arrived! I am a lotion and potion type of girl especially when the cold weather kicks in and my skin dries out!

The first thing I noticed when I opened the package was the Carmex logo and colors that we have come to associate with the Carmex brand of lip care products! The packaging is simple but very east to spot on the store shelf! I love the tube style of bottle because it is easy to use every last drop of the product.

Next came the sniff test! I am a big one for smelling a product in the store before I buy it so that was the next logical step for me! It smells like Carmex lip care products which caught me by surprise at first! It would not be something I would choose based on smell, however, when I put the lotion on my skin the smell blended well with my natural scent and no one noticed it (yes, I asked).

The feel of the lotions was very creamy and luxurious and was everything I would want from a lotion! After one week of use, my skin felt wonderful! I would absolutely recommend this product to everyone to everyone!

We are not big hunters at my house until October rolls around and then we are searching for the perfect pumpkin! Our hunt usually takes us to The Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur, IL (made famous by Martha Stewart) where we can search for pumpkin and squash and taste all the yummy treats available for purchase!

This year we loaded up the whole family and made the trek on an unseasonably warm Sunday! We had a wonderful time and, yes, we found the perfect pumpkin(s)!

We ran into this friendly guy! He had his period tools and cooking items laid out for all to see. He was busy scooping the pulp out of a squash and putting them on the fire to make a yummy sweet treat!

I love all the displays! They are lovely and just by looking, you can tell how many man hours went into setting everything up for us to enjoy!

I never get enough of this! I love to watch the Diva and her daddy! She loves him so much and the feeling is quite mutual!

As much as I love them, I also love this grass! I really want to plant some in my yard but I know that the Knight would mistake it for weeds and mow it or pour weed killer on it! So, I have to settle for pictures for now! Sigh!

She loves her ice cream! It was pretty warm on Sunday so she got chocolate and I think it got her too!! The Moody Teen and I got pumpkin ice cream and it was yummy!!

We found the perfect pumpkins! We got a big one, a medium one and a Diva sized one too!

Sigh..........do I really need to say anything more? Be still my heart! I love my babies!

Since I had some great Diva helpers along, I could just kind of wonder and play with my camera! Funny how much things have changed in a year! I know so much more about my camera and light compared to last year!

So here is what happened to out perfect pumpkins! The Diva and the Knight plus a knife and an ice cream scoop equals.........................................................................................................................

This guy and his two little friends!!

I have pictures of the Diva dressed up in her costume but they have to wait until later cause I am in need of a nap! Have a great weekend and remember to be safe!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Nestle Dolce Gusto. All opinions are 100% mine.

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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Last night I cried like a baby at his band Senior Night Pizza Party! They showed taped performances of the last four years of field shows and, of course, the final one had my boy playing the solo! So yeah, I cried! It is hard to believe that he is 18 and that his Senior year is almost half over! WOW, somebody stop the clock please!

I am still editing and shooting and editing some more but I will share our pumpkin adventures with you later in the week! Right now I am getting ready to head out the door for a night of fun with other moms and tomorrow is the harvest party at the Diva's school so I will be there with her (camera in hand) and will share that with you also! Hope you are having a great week!

Friday, October 22, 2010

That is what my life has come to! If you want to see me, you need to schedule an appointment so I don't book a photo shoot for that day! It is so bad that I had to schedule a day to make a family trip to the pumpkin patch! I really want to go but I have also been really busy so Sunday it is!!

After church we are meeting Grandma and going to lunch and then the pumpkin patch (if it does not rain)! I hate that it has come to this but I am still shooting Senior Pictures that need to be turned in for the yearbook by November 2! Talk about these kids that wait until the last minute!

OK, folks time to rest my eyes for a few minutes before I have to take off to shoot one of those last minute Senior shoots! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I will talk to you soon!

PS. If you want proof of my hectic shooting schedule please feel free to visit my photo blog for one EPIC post full of photo sessions from the month of October! Go on now click over to see my latest work!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Just reporting that I am still alive an kickin' like a chicken and in need of a vacation! October has been one busy month for this photographer and I need a little break but that will come in November! Right now I am still shooting and still editing! My house is need of some attention and I could use a mani/pedi but that will have to wait just a little longer!

Everyone here in the cornfield is doing great! The kids are in full swing with school! The Knight works a lot and tinkers on the weekends and well, you know what I am doing! Just to prove it, here is one two from a wedding that I am working on! Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you ever wanted to make the switch to generic formula? Now is a a great time because Parents Choice is now available on-line at walmart.com as well as in the stores! You can conveniently order your babies formula in cases and have it shipped directly to your home. Both the powdered and ready-to-feed versions are available and there is no additional charge to have it shipped to your home!

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This word has been wondering around in my head for a while now waiting for the perfect time to manifest a post and the time is now!! As a creative person, inspiration can come from so many places and them come bursting forth in my photography and my music! I am inspired by people, places and inanimate objects! There is nothing out of the realm of possibility!

Let me give you some examples:

I am inspired by my husband, who decided to give up alcohol! It was killing our marriage and our family life and was sure to kill him if he did not stop! It has been 60 days and I am so inspired by his courage to face his issues head on!

I am inspired by my mother-in-law, who is keeping a positive outlook despite battling cancer! Her "new" hair inspired my newest cut and color for my hair! Yes, her new do looked so much better than my old one! Now I know that a more natural look is best for me!

I am inspired by my clients! They are so neat to observe and photograph! Many times, I do not have to tell them how to pose because they are just being themselves and what better to capture? I recently photographed twin, senior boys! What fun and what a challenge they posed! However, all I had to do was observe them and viola'! Take this photo, for instance, this is something they do on a daily basis and I saw it as an inspiration!

You know I cannot resists hands but let's not forget about the feet! I just love little feet! Here a few shots you will love!

And this last image was inspired by the location itself! I have walked past it many a time and never gave it a second glance but Monday it jumped out to me as if calling my name! I am so glad I listened or I would have missed this:

All of the photos I used today are from recent shoots that I have been working on and will soon share with you all! I have been incredibly busy this month and have another two full weeks of heavy shooting before I can take a small break in November! I am, in no way complaining! I LOVE what I do and I LOVE my clients!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

I love everything about this time of year!! The smells, the flavors, the colors and most of all the cooler temps that bring out sweatshirts and jeans! Fall also brings on an onslaught of clients for me to photograph because they are trying to get family photos in before the weather gets too cold! I am not, in any way, complaining because I love what I do!

The Diva has already picked out her costume for this year and I have to say it is a big change from what she was last year. I won't spoil the surprise because the pictures will be better than me just spilling the beans!

Here she is two years ago!

And here she is last year as a Pirate Girl!

I hate to leave you guessing but it will make the big reveal more fun and even cuter! That is just my opinion! LOL! OK, enough chit chat! Time for me to get back to editing!